Pneumatic time-lock for pneumatic-tube systems.



No. 707,07I. Patented A'ug. I9, |902. B. C. BAT'CHELLER. PNEUMATIG TIME LUCK FOR PNEUMATIG TUBE SYSTEMS.

(Application tiled Oct. 11 1900.)

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No. 7o7,o7|. Patented Aug. le, |902. B., c. BATCHELLER.

IZNELHIIATIC'` TIME LOCK FUR PNEUMATIG TUBE SYSTEMS.

(Application med ont. 1 1, 190o.j

'(No Model.) 3 Sheets-$heet v2.

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No. 707,07l. Patented Aug. |9, |902.

B. C. BATCHELLER. PNEU'MATIC TIME LOCK FUR PNEUMATI'G TUBE SYSTEMS.

(Applieaeion med octfn, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.,

' (No Model.)

ma Nonms Prrcns cn, PHoroLlmo., wAsmNsroN, n4 c UNITED .l STATES @PATENT OFFICE.

BIRNEY C. BATCI'IELLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC TIME-LOCK FOR PNEUMATlC-TUBE SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,071, dated August 19, 1902.

Application iiled October 11, 1900. Serial No. 32,681. (No model.)

To 1r/ZZ whom, it may con/cern.:

i Beitknown that LBIENEY C. BATCHELLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county oi' Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Time-Locks for Pneumatic-Tube Systems, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My in vention relates to pneu matic-tube systems, and has for its object to provide for use with such systems a pneumatic time-escapement for actuating a locking device, in turn regulating the movement of some movable part of the tube system.

The nature of my invention will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings,in which I have illustrated my pneumatic time-escapement as adapted to regulate movements of a device by which carriers are delivered to the tubes and in which also I have shown several modifications of my device, all within the broad scope of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly'in section, of a device for delivering carriers to the tube provided with my pneumatic time-escapement. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the time-escapement and lock. Fig. 3 isa sectional elevation of certain details of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, not in themselves forming a part of my present invention. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 areviews illustrating various modifications of my invention.

A,Fig.l,is the pneumatic tube through which the carriers are transmitted. The upper part of this tube (indicated at A)'is formed with slots, through which it connects with a sup-V ply-pipe A3, communicating in turn with a a source of air under pressure. (Not shown.)

.A2 indicates an offset from the portion A of the pipe, in which the finger P2 is situated.

A4 is an annular casing through the bottom of which is formed a perforation registering with the top of the tube-section A. Another perforation A5 is formed through the casing A4 for the admission of the carrier, a holder o5 extending out from the bottom thereof.

A6 is an opening at the top of the casing directly opposite to the opening leading to the tube system, this opening being normally closed by a plug a6.

I3 is an annular casing fitting in the casing A4 and supportingV the tube-section B', b b, the., indicating spoke-like braces connecting the rim of the casing B with the tube-section. The casing and tu be-section are provided, preferably, with trunnion-like extensions, (indicated at 132,) which are journaled on some fixed framework and to one of which,as shown, is attached the segmental gear, (in dicated at Bii 134,) indicating a pin attached to the pipesection B and having connections, which are not shown because not needed in the present case.

C is a reciprocating rack moving on the slide indicated at A7 and connected through a piston-rod C' with a pistou C2, moving in the cylinder D and having, as shown, a cushioning-cylinder G3 attached to it, which when the piston moves to the left, as shown in Fig. l, is entered by the plunger, (indicated at C4.)

D and D2 indicate ports leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder D, and D3 is a `port leading,as shown, from the port D2 to to a pipe T. I

E isa valvechamber having in it the cylindrical chamber E, at opposite ends of which are situated the ports E2 and E3, connecting, through the portions e2 and e3, with the ports D and D2.

E*l is the inlet-port for compressed. air, and E5 the exhaust-port.

F is a valve-rod having attachedv to it the piston-valves F and F2, which move in the cylindrical valve-chamber E, as shown.

F3 indicates the projecting end of the valverod, and F4 the prolongation of the rod in the other direction, this portionV of the 'rod being connected with the lever G and normally held in the position indicated in Fig. l by the action of the spring F5, having a bearing against the pivot-head G4 and acting against a collar ff on the valve-rod F4. The lever Gis pivoted at G and has connected with it the segment (indicated at G2() formed with a shoulder g2 at its upper edge and the slot G3, through which extends the stationary pin G5.

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t wall of the chamber K, while from the back the front and the other into the side of the cylinder, as shown (See Fig 3.) v

I is a piston moving in the cylinder H and having attached to it and projecting through the front ot' thejcylinderthe locking-bolt I', 12 indicating a spring, which normally pushes the piston against the front face of the cylinden J and J are pipe connections leading from the ports H and H2, the pipe J connecting with the chamber K2 of the valve-casing K, which has formed in it the two chambers K and K2, connected by a port K3, the chamber K2 having, as shown, a head with a central cylindrical port K4 formed in it, and the chamber K being connected bya pipe K5 with the source of air under pressure.

L is a valve normally seated on the port K3 and having extending from its front face the rod L', which extends through the front face of the valve extends the hollow cylinder, (indicated at L2,) this cylinder tting and moving inthe cylindrical port K4 and having formed in it ports L2, which normally open into the chamber K3, but which are closed when the valve leaves its seat.

L4 indicates a spring which holds the valve to its seat.

The pipe J, leading from the port H2, connects with the upper end of a cylinder M, in ihe lower face of which is an opening M. N isa piston moving in this cylinder and normally held in its upper position by a spring N3. The rod N extends down from the piston through the lower head of the cylinder and has attached to a yoke at its bottom the slide N2, which moves in the slot O2 of the valve-lifting finger O, said linger hav- ,i endl of the valve-chamber E and supporting ing besides the slot a projection O at one end aud au eccentric-ring O2' at the other end, said eccentric-ring fitting on an eccentric P', attached to a shaft P, to which shaft is also attached the finger P2, (shown in Fig. 1,) said finger being held in the position indicated by a spring.

In the parts above described the apparatus illustrated does not differ in general characteristics from similar apparatus shown and described in former patents, with the exception of the provision of the port D3 in a position where the fmovement of a valve alternately admits and cuts off the supply of air to said port.

Referring now to the portions of the apparatus shown which form the subject-matter ot' my present application, Q (see Figs. 1 and 2) is a bracket secured, as shown, to the tubular portions Q and Q2, arranged with anopening between'their adjacent ends, as shown. The bracket has also formed on it the extensions Q3, supporting a pivot g3, on which is pivoted the vibrating lock U, having at its free end its upper surfaces U arranged so that in the lower position of the lock the end F3 of the valve-rod will move over it, while from the lower face of the lock extends the iinger U2, which when the lock moves up serves as a stop by coming in contact with the end of the valve-rod. The upper end of the tubular portion Q has secured to or formed upon it the flared portion Q4, into which is connected the pipe T, as shown at g4, Q5 indicating the stufiing-box plug, screwed into the upper end of the tube Q and affording passage for the rod S2.

Q6 is a casting forming the upper portion of the diaphragm-chamber and. having formed in it, as shown in Fig. 2, an opening Q7 for the outlet of air and an -opening Q8 for the inlet of air. The outlet-passage Q7 is closed by a valve R, held to its seat by a spring, as indicated, the action of the valve being to permit the ready escape of air from the diaphragm-chamber and to prevent the entrance of air through the same port.

S is the diaphragm, secured between the castings Q4 and Q6 and having secured to its center by means of the clamp-plates S the rod S2, having a foot S2, which rests upon the upper part of the vibrating lock U, a spring S4 acting to normally hold the diaphragm and rod S2 in the position shown in Fig. 2.

S5 is a plunger situated in the tubular portion Q2 and held against the lower face of the lock U by a spring S6.

V is an air-inlet-regulating device having, as shown, a threaded end screwing into the opening Q8 and formed with a perforation V',- the opening of which is regulated by a needle V2, having a threaded spindle V2, turned by means of a handle V4.

To describe the operation of the special adaptation of the device shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 before referring to the modifications illustrated in Figs. i to 7, I would state that a carrier intended to be delivered into the pipe A is inserted in the rotatable tube B, which in its receiving position lies as shown in Fig. l. The operator then moves the lever G toward the right, as shown in Fig. l, thereby moving the segment G2 downward until the notch g2 comes opposite to the lock I', which andthe piston I is` thrust forward by the spring l2 until the lock engages in the notch, locking the lever in position. If the valve-rod F3 F5 is free to move, it is moved byv the movement of the lever shifting the valves F and F2, so as to connect the port e3 with the port E4 and the port e2 with the exhaustport E5, this movement of the valve-rod also thrusting the extension F3 over the top of the vibrating lock U and preventing it from rising until the valve-rod has moved back. to

normal position. If, however, the vibrating lock is in position to prevent the movement `of the valve-rod when the lever G is moved, the lever simply compresses the spring F5,

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which as long as the lever is in locked position exercises its pressure against the valverod, so that as soon as the vibrating lock moves downward the valves are moved, as above described. The admission of compressed air tothe port E2 and through said port and its connections to the front end of the cylinder D causes the piston C2 to move backward, and said piston carrying the rack centric P', so that the end O' of the iinger Ou clears the end L' of the valve-rod, whereupon the finger O is at once drawn upward by the action of the spring N3 acting on the piston N and through the piston-rod N' and its connection N2 on the finger O; but as soon as the carrier passes the iinger P2 said finger resumes its normal position, as shown in Fig. l, the shifting of the eccentric P forcing the end O of the finger O against the valve-rod L' and thrusting the valve L away from its seat and its heel extension L2 into `the cylindrical bearing part K, so as to close the openings L2. Air under pressure coming through the pipe K5 passes then through the chamber K', the port K2, and the chamber K2 to the pipe J and thence into the front end of the cylinder H, where, acting on the piston I, it forces said piston backward and retracts the locking-bolt I', permitting the lever Gto resume its normal position, as shown in Fig. l. The piston I in moving backward uncovers the port H2, which permits the compressed air to pass out ofthe cylinder through the pipe J' into the head of the cylinder M, where, acting on the piston N, it forces said piston downward until the end O of the linger O passes below the valve-rod extension L', whereupon the spring Ll1 at once closes the valve L, shutting off connection between the chambers K' and K2 and opening the chamber K2 to the exhaust-port K4, so that the piston I can again move forward until the bolt I' comes in contact with the segment G2. When the air from the port E4 is admitted to the ports E2 D2, it passes also through the port D2 and the pipe T into the lower portion of the diaphragm chamber formed between the castings Q4 and QG, pressing the diaphragm upward, the air in the diaphragm-chamber escaping freely through the port Q7. The upward movement ot' the diaphragm of course carries with it the rod S2, which no longer presses against the upper face of the vibrating lock U, said lock being held in the position indicated in Fig. 2 by the extension of the valve-rod F3 over its upper surface; but as soon as said valve-rod is retracted the plunger S5, acting against its lower face, moves the lock upward in front of the valve-rod F2, so that said valve-rod cannotagain be moved forward until the rod S2 resumes the position shown in Fig. 2. The rod is moved downward as soon as the pressure is relieved from below the diaphragm by the action of the spring S4; but the motion of the rod is checked and regulated by the admission of air above the diaphragm, which is regulated by the needle V2, so as to give any time interval required and so that the vibrating lock U will remain in position in front of the spindle F3 for whatever time may be fixed as that within which no two carriers should be sent into the tube.

My pneumatic time-lock may be used in connection with any of the movable parts of a pneumatic-tube system, and it may be modied in many of its details without departure from my invention.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated diagrammatically substantially the same pneumatic escapement as is shown in Fig. 2, attaching to the lower end of the rod S2 the linger S5, arranged when the rod descends to act on the end X' of a pivoted lever X, W indicating the pivot, X2 indicating the locking-face of the lever, and X2 the stop-face, which when the lock is in position to engage the valve-rod F3 rests against the valve-rod, as shown.

In Fig. 4 I have diagrammatically shown a modified form of pneumatic time-lock in which the regulating device V is arranged so as to permit only a slow movement of the diaphragm and rod S2 upward when air is admitted to the pipe T, an inwardly-opening valve R' being provided which when airis exhausted through pipe F permits the spring S4 to return the diaphragm and rod to normal position with great rapidity. In this construction I have shown the finger S5 as arranged to act upon the end X of the lever X at the end of its upward movement and with the effect of unlatching the face X2 of the lever from the end of the valve-rod F2.

In Fig. 6 the top of the diaphragm-charnber opens freely to the air, as indicated at Q7, and the pipe T communicates with the lower portion of the diaphragm-chamber through a pipe-section T', having in it a regulatingvalve t', the air after passing said valve entering the chamber through pipe-section T2, and after the supply from the pipe T is cut oif the lowest portion of the diaphragm-chamber exhausts rapidly through the valve T4 in the pipe-section T2. This device operates in practically the same way as that indicated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 7 the construction is similar to that in Fig. 6 in that the upper section of the diaphragm-chamber opens freely to the air; but in this construction the air passing to the diaphragm chamber from the pipe T passes through the pipe-section T2 and the valve T5, situated therein, and exhausts from the diaphragm-chamber through the pipe-sec- IOG- IIO

tion T and the regulating-valve situated therein, the operation of this modification being the same as the device shown in Fig. 5.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pneumatic-tube system, a pneumatic cylinder and piston actuating a movable device forming part of the system, a lock for holdingsaid movable device in one position, a pneumatic time-escapement device arranged to Withdraw the said lock after the admission of compressed air to the escapement device, a source of air-supplyhaving connectionsto the cylinder and escapement aforesaid and means for opening said connections to the source of supply or to exhaust.

2. In apneumatic-tube system a pneumatic cylinder and piston actuating a movable device forming part of the system, in combination With a port leading to one end of the cylinder, a pneumatic time-escapement, a port leading thereto, a valve controlling the connection of said ports with a source of air under pressure and with an exhaust so that air is admitted to and exhausted from one end of the cylinder and to and from the escapement during the same positions of the valve, and a locking device actuated by said time-escapement.

3. In a pneumatic-tube system a pneumatic cylinder and piston actuating a movable device forming part of the system, in combination with a port leading to one end of the cylinder, a pneumatic time-escapement, a port leading thereto, a valve controlling the connection of said ports with a source of air under pressure and with an exhaust so that air is admitted to and exhausted from one end of the cylinder and to and from the escapement during the same positions of the valve, and a locking device actuated by said time-escapement and arranged to engage and prevent a second movement of the valve to admit air to the port for a'determined time. 45

BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER.

Witnesses:

EDWD. C. REGN, D. STEWART. 

